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-Of the 268,212 children under age 18 removed from their families in FY 2017, 96,400 (36 percent) had parental drug abuse listed as a reason for their removal.

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One in three children entered foster care in 2017 because of parental drug abuse - Child Trends

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In federal fiscal year (FY) 2017, the rate of children entering foster care due to parental drug abuse rose for the sixth consecutive year to 131 per 100,000 children nationally—a 5 percent increase from the previous fiscal year and a 53 percent increase since FY 2007. Of the 268,212 children under…

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-Kids whose parents struggle with mental health issues and addiction are more likely to experience their own challenges with depression, anxiety and addiction. Those who experience abuse may suffer the impact of trauma, becoming hypervigilant, having flashbacks and an exaggerated startle response.

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It's no secret that addiction ruins lives. The impact of addiction reverberates in every part of society, across cultures, socioeconomic levels, and age groups. When parents become addicted to drugs and alcohol, it impacts their physical and emotional health, behaviors, and ability to effectively parent their kids. One in five children in the U.S. live in a home with a parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Parental substance abuse severely impacts children's health and development; it establishes an unspoken understanding of the role substances play in being an adult. Norms are established from a young age, and when addiction and substance abuse are part of those norms, children learn to follow suit, often from a young age. Genetic factors also contribute to a child's likelihood for addiction. The combination of childhood experiences, environment, and genetic factors can increase children's likelihood of having addiction at some point in their lives. Children who come from homes in which parents were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to start using drugs earlier in their lives and become addicted more quickly than peers from homes without substance abuse. If you are a parent dealing with substance abuse, contact a team member today for help.
Stop the Impact of Substance Abuse on Families Today
Parental Drug Use And How Children Are Affected

Children who grow up in a home with parental drug use often suffer from a variety of emotional and developmental delays. Parental drug use and child neglect are common co-occurring conditions within families. Children who grow up in a home with parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are three times more likely to suffer physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Whether it is at the hands of a parent who is using drugs or alcohol or due to exposure to others who abuse them, kids whose parents abuse substances are at greater risk. The lasting traumatic effects of these types of abuse can be devastating throughout the lifespan. These kids are also four times as likely to experience neglect than their peers in non-substance abusing homes. When drugs and alcohol become the priority, parents begin to lose focus on their role and how important it is to be physically and emotionally available to their children. Parents in these situations often feel incredibly guilty and ashamed of their addiction, and these feelings contribute to more substance abuse to mask the guilt and shame. It is a cyclical pattern that, when combined with the physical aspects of addiction, can keep people stuck. The emotional impact of substance abuse is severe, as children learn their needs are no longer a priority. Neglect has lasting effects on children emotionally and can even have physiological side effects and negative health outcomes. Often behavioral and emotional problems arise in children who live in homes with addicted parents; this may mean angry outbursts, depression, anxiety or detachment. It is difficult for children to articulate what they are feeling and thinking, and as a result, their behaviors are usually the best indicator of their emotional state. When children grow up in an environment in which neglect is the norm and substance abuse is the priority, their mental and physical wellbeing suffers and their ability to have a healthy attachment to other people is compromised. Kids in this situation are more likely to repeat these patterns in their own lives and it becomes an intergenerational problem.

When children are being neglected due to parental substance abuse, developmental problems often arise, such as speech delays, malnutrition, and cognitive functioning issues. Parental drug use during pregnancy can result in birth defects, attachment problems and drug-affected newborns. These are major health issues that can shorten children's lifespan and the ability to learn and function. Substance abuse's impact on children is severe and often irreversible. Parents certainly don't set out with a plan to become addicted, but often become more involved with substance use due to the physically addictive properties of drugs and alcohol. Casual use of substances can easily turn addictive. Parents who abuse drugs and alcohol run the risk of addiction, particularly if there is a genetic predisposition and co-occurring mental health issues.

Parents' Psychological Health Issues Impacts Kids

Parents with substance use disorder often struggle with other mental health conditions, and frequently, these factors contribute to the ongoing addiction. Parental substance misuse is often a challenge for parents who take medication for other conditions. People may wonder, what is parental substance misuse? It is the intentional misuse of a substance for the purposes of emotional escape or detachment. Substance misuse can occur when one takes a medication in excess, or beyond what is prescribed, for example. Whether it is a medication intended to ease physical pain or emotional distress, the misuse of a drug occurs when it is used outside of the scope of prescription. Any drug or alcoholic beverage that is consumed outside of the normal range of use is considered misuse. Parents who self-medicate with drugs and alcohol impact more than just their own physical and emotional health. Parental addiction, substance misuse, and mental health issues make a lasting impression on kids. Children who are exposed to drugs and alcohol are at possible risk for accidental ingestion, poisoning, and overdose, as well as the risk of finding their parental figure in this dire situation.

Kids whose parents struggle with mental health issues and addiction are more likely to experience their own challenges with depression, anxiety and addiction. Those who experience abuse may suffer the impact of trauma, becoming hypervigilant, having flashbacks and an exaggerated startle response. Parent mental health and substance abuse patterns directly impact children's wellbeing. A 2016 study found that parents' mental health issues had a significant impact on toddlers' wellbeing and resulted in increased behavioral problems. Fathers with mental health issues had a long-term impact on their children's social skills in areas such as self-control and cooperation by the time children reached 5th grade. When parents are struggling with mental health challenges and addiction issues, their availability to tend to their children's needs are limited. The focus on access to substances, plus the debilitating impact of mental health issues on energy and mood creates a distraction within the parent that overrules their capacity to be present for the kids in any meaningful way. Parental satisfaction and response to the burdens of parenting also impact the relationship and can influence the mental health of parents and their children. When parents are preoccupied with drug and alcohol addiction, their ability to prioritize their children's needs gets diminished. During childhood, parents are the most important factor in a child's life; the way parents function deeply impacts the way children think and feel about themselves and the world around them. Children who grow up in a home that is impacted by addiction quickly learn that they are not safe and that their parents are not able to put them first.

When addiction is in control, everyone loses, parents and children, extended family and friends. Fortunately, people can heal from addiction. Families can reconnect and parent-child bonds can be mended when recovery is chosen. Substance use disorder is powerful and destructive, but it doesn't have to be the end of the story. Recovery is an option. Healing is possible.

Treatment For Substance Use Disorder And Mental Health Needs

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use and mental health needs, you don't need to face these challenges alone. Help is available, you and your family are worth it. Valley Behavioral Health understands the challenges parents with addiction face. The trained, experienced professionals at Valley Behavioral Health are ready to help you toward recovery and building the life you've always wanted. It all starts with making the decision to reach out for help. Recovery works best with the support of trained professionals and loved ones; no one should have to face it alone. We will work with you each step of the way, from making a plan to enter treatment, to building healthy coping skills to stay sober and everything in between.
Get Treatment Today

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How Parental Substance Abuse Impacts Kids | Valley Cares

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It's no secret that addiction ruins lives. Parental substance abuse can severely impact children's health and development. Click here to read more about the impact of substance abuse.

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-Since most children who dont have either one or both of their parents in their life, this will cause them to grow up without a good role model. Without good parenting this will cause the kid to not know what correct behavior is so they will likely follow in the same footsteps as their parents.

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When parents have a drug or alcohol addiction, this causes parents to spend their money on intoxicants instead of necessities for their children.

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-If kids who were traumatized in their past don't get the help they need before adulthood, they will turn to drugs trying to help them and when they become parents, it will be too late.

-These parents that abuse drugs will raise their kids to have the same problem as them which will continue this cycle.

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-When a parent is intoxicated, they are more likely to abuse, this being either Physically, Emotionally, Sexually or Neglect.

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Impact of Addiction in Parents

Regardless of our age, we are always deeply influenced by the people who raise us. These influences include not only the genes inherited from biological parents, but also the behaviors, habits, values, and communication styles that we learn from our adult caregivers. This same pattern applies to the way we use alcohol or drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 25 percent of American kids grow up in households where substance abuse is present. In homes where one or more adults abuse alcohol or drugs, children are approximately twice as likely to develop addictive disorders themselves, according to Current Drug Abuse Reviews. These children are also more likely to experience:

Poor performance in school

Emotional and behavioral problems

Low self-esteem

A higher risk of physical, verbal, or sexual abuse

A higher risk of developing anxiety or depression

Earlier onset of experimentation with drugs or alcohol

A greater chance of becoming addicted once they start using drugs or alcohol

On a positive note, children can have a powerful impact on the adults in their lives if they have access to the right resources and support services. Learning about these support systems, and how to use them to get help for addicted parents, can change the course of a child's future and may help a parent begin the recovery process.

Helping the Addicted Parent: A Role Reversal

In a healthy parent-child relationship, the parent takes on the role of the caregiver, providing physical shelter, emotional support, and financial security for a young person who is still developing. In parent-child relationships that involve substance abuse, however, these roles are often reversed, and the child assumes the role of the caregiver. Many children are not even aware that they have taken on this responsibility.

Some of the "duties" of a child-parent are obvious, like helping an intoxicated father clean up after a night of heavy drinking or getting a part-time job to help cover the cost of groceries. But these responsibilities may also involve a level of emotional intimacy that exceeds the boundaries of a healthy parent-child relationship.

In all of these scenarios, the child is asked to assume a level of maturity that they may not be ready for. Addicted parents often infringe on the emotional boundaries that allow children to develop independently, turning the child into an expert caretaker who lacks social skills or a sense of personal identity.

According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the emotional and mental stress of having to care for themselves and for intoxicated parents can harm a child's brain development. In addition, children who must provide for themselves because their parents are physically or mentally absent are at higher risk of injury, exposure to crime, malnutrition, and isolation from their peers. Children whose parents are often drunk or high may be embarrassed to bring their friends home. As a result, their lives may become so restricted that they fail to develop strong relationships with their peers.

Worst of all, a lot of kids believe that the parent's addiction is somehow their fault - that if they were better behaved, earned better grades in school, or took care of all the chores at home, their parents wouldn't be so tired or stressed and wouldn't have to medicate themselves with drugs. Young people who find themselves in this situation need to feel empowered to step outside of the caregiving role and get help for themselves.

Seeking Help outside the Home

For children who are trying to be their own caregivers or who are parenting their parents, it isn't always easy to find help outside the home. Children of addicted adults are often discouraged - sometimes through outright intimidation or emotional manipulation - from talking with other grownups about problems they're experiencing. Parents with substance abuse issues may become angry or abusive if they feel that a child is "betraying" the family by exposing its secrets to a school counselor, teacher, doctor, or a friend's parent. Many parents are also afraid of the very real possibility that if their substance abuse is exposed, they might lose legal custody of their children and face criminal charges.

To make matters worse, growing up in a home affected by substance abuse can damage a child's self-esteem, making it even more difficult to approach a sober adult or the authorities. This situation can lead to extreme anxiety, fear, and a profound sense of helplessness. The National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) lists parental substance abuse as one of the most common reasons that children run away from home or become homeless. In addition, NCSL reports that 46 percent of underage runaways are the victims of physical abuse, and 38 percent are the victims of emotional abuse - both of which are common in homes where an adult abuses alcohol or drugs.

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Overcoming the Stigma of Substance Abuse

Our society's opinions about substance abuse play a big part in the way we respond to those who get addicted to intoxicating substances. Although addiction is now recognized as a chronic disease of the brain, many substance users who desperately need help are still judged or condemned. Parents, in particular, are vulnerable to judgment, criticism, and legal repercussions because of the effects of substance abuse on their children.

Condemning parents does not necessarily help them or their children. Instead, the social stigma against addicts and alcoholics discourages both parents and children from reaching out for help. In her account of her childhood growing up with an addicted father, author Alana Hope Levinson describes how the shame of having a parent who abused drugs prevented her from reaching out to others for support. Levinson writes that this social bias against addiction leads to a "conspiracy of silence," in which society ignores the needs of young victims of abuse and neglect. As a result, many of the kids who grow up in households affected by addiction continue to suffer poor mental and physical health as adults.

When you're struggling with a sense of shame, or with the fear of voicing your needs, make a list of your rights as a child or teen and repeat them to yourself. Say them out loud until you feel comfortable with them, until they become part of the way you think about yourself.

Help for Adult Children of Addicted Parents

The repercussions of growing up with addicted adults do not end with adulthood. In a landmark study of the long-term effects of childhood neglect, researchers found that children who grow up in abusive home environments had a higher risk of developing chronic health problems as adults. Through this project, the Adverse Child Experiences (ACE) study, data was collected from 17,000 adults participating in physical exams through Kaiser Permanente.

Revisiting the past can be painful, and it can be extremely uncomfortable to confront aging family members about past behaviors. With the support and guidance of a counselor, 12-Step fellowship, or spiritual leader, reviewing the past can be much more productive and rewarding. Adults who are current substance abusers can find healing and self-discovery through a rehabilitation program that includes medical detox, intensive counseling services, peer group support, and family or couples therapy.

Convincing a Parent to Seek Treatment

Talking to a parent about getting help for substance abuse can be extremely intimidating. To some kids, addressing the problem seems like a betrayal of the parent's trust; to others, it might be a frightening violation of authority. One of the most important things to remember about addiction is that it can distort the user's sense of reality, hiding the true impact of the disease. Many parents may not be aware of the effects of their drug use on their kids. They may be so deep in denial that they don't realize how chaotic their children's world has become.

Listed below are seven steps you can take to make a conversation with your parent more successful, whether you're a young person who's still dependent on your parent or the independent adult child of an addicted person.

Types of Rehab Treatment for Parents

Inpatient or residential rehab: Many clients, especially those who have a long history of substance abuse or severe addiction, choose to go to an inpatient treatment center or residential rehab facility after detox ends. This stage may take place in a hospital, specialized inpatient unit, or a dedicated recovery facility. During this time, your parent may be away from home if they need 24-hour care. At an inpatient facility, clients participate in individual therapy sessions, group counseling, family therapy, support groups, and other activities that will help them learn how to avoid alcohol and drugs in the future.

Outpatient rehab: Clients who are motivated to quit and stable in their early sobriety may go straight from detox to outpatient rehab. Outpatient rehab involves going to classes and therapy sessions in a treatment facility or clinic outside the home while going home at night. Some people continue to work while they are in outpatient rehab, while others spend the entire day in recovery activities. Outpatient programs typically last four or more weeks. Clients who have finished an inpatient program may transfer to outpatient rehab when they no longer need a highly structured, supervised environment to stay sober.

Aftercare services and sober living homes: After a rehab program ends, many facilities provide aftercare support services. These services may include therapy sessions at the facility, access to self-help groups, membership on social media sites, family weekends, workshops, volunteer activities, recreational events, and more. For clients who need a transition between rehab and their former life at home, sober living houses provide a place to live in the community while practicing new coping skills.

After Rehab Treatment

Parents who have been through a rehab program can experience a wide range of emotions, from gratitude and joy to depression, anxiety, and anger. Kids must remember that these emotional responses are natural, and they should be handled with the help of a professional therapist or support group.

In the months following rehab, it's more important than ever that young people have their own support system - including therapists, friends, and sober family members - to help them understand the nature of addiction and recovery, and to know what to expect from their parents after rehab. Sobriety is not always easy, and kids may be surprised or frightened by their parents' new behaviors.

Recovery for Kids and Adult Children

According to family systems theory, addiction is a disease that arises from dysfunction in a family unit, not just from one individual's behavior. By the same token, recovery from addiction must encompass the whole family, not simply the person who drinks too much or abuses drugs. For the children of addicted parents, no matter what their age, recovery often begins with regaining self-confidence and learning how to build trusting relationships with family and peers. The checklist below can help you find a recovery program that will address these needs as well as others:

Peer support groups where members can share their experiences with addiction in a supportive, safe environment

Confidential access to a team of therapists, counselors, and social workers who specialize in helping family members affected by addiction

Individual therapy to reinforce self-esteem, enhance motivation, and gain new coping strategies to build a sober life

Family therapy programs that engage parents and their children in the work of recovering from addiction

Assessment and treatment for mental health disorders that can occur with substance abuse, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Grief and trauma therapies for children, teens, or adults who have been victims of abuse

Activities that support the emotional and spiritual side of recovery, such as experiential therapy, art therapy, meditation, and journaling

Activities that support physical health, such as nutritional counseling and exercise programs

Opportunities to learn about 12-Step recovery principles and attend meetings of fellowships like Al-Anon or Alateen

An aftercare program that provides resources and support for clients who have completed detox and rehab

Finding a good rehab program that meets your needs can be the first step in a lifelong journey of recovery. You can start that journey by researching programs in your community and by talking with people who have experience in substance abuse treatment. Our parents' behavior shapes who we are, but it doesn't have to limit our future or prevent us from becoming strong, successful, sober individuals.
ELEMENTS OF A REHAB PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN OF ADDICTED PARENTS

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Children of Addicted Parents Guide: How to Deal With Addict Parents

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Children can have a powerful impact on drug addicted parents if they have access to the right resources. Learn how and where to get help.

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Drugs are sold illegally in just about every town across the world. If you know the right people, you can get your hands on drugs. The availability is making it seem acceptable --> transition to next pg about how drugs is become acceptable nowadays.

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Drugs have become acceptable and that is not okay.

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Drugs have become acceptable and that is not okay.

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People think drugs are cool, fun, or a way to fit in and it gets them hooked. Even if people start drugs during teen years, they will take it with them into parenthood, ¨Some people abuse prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Prescription drugs can be easier to get than street drugs: Family members or friends may have them. But prescription drugs are also sometimes sold on the street like other illegal drugs.¨ (Prescription Drug Abuse).

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Taking prescription drugs in a way that hasn't been recommended by a doctor can be more dangerous than people think. In fact, it's drug abuse. And it's illegal, just like taking street drugs.

Why Do People Abuse Prescription Drugs?

Some people abuse prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Prescription drugs can be easier to get than street drugs: Family members or friends may have them. But prescription drugs are also sometimes sold on the street like other illegal drugs.

But prescription drugs are only safe for the people who have prescriptions for them. That's because a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medicine for their medical condition. The doctor has also told them exactly how they should take the medicine, including things to avoid while taking the drug. They also are aware of side effects and can watch patients closely for these.

Which Drugs Are Abused?

The most often used prescription drugs fall into three classes:
1. Opioids

Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol)

Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain.

How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.

2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants

Examples: phenobarbital (Luminal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax)

Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat seizures, anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.

How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by making changes in brain chemicals. The result is a drowsy or calming effect.

3. Stimulants

Examples: methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat ADHD and other conditions.

How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy.

What Are the Dangers of Abusing Medicines?

Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person's health.

Opioid abuse can lead to mood and behavior changes, trouble thinking clearly, breathing problems, and even a coma or death. This risk is higher when opioids are taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines, and CNS depressants.

CNS depressant abuse is risky too. Depressants can make people sleepy, uncoordinated, or confused, and can lead to slurred speech and slowed breathing. Abruptly stopping or reducing them too quickly can lead to seizures. Taking CNS depressants with other medicines, such as prescription painkillers, some over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, or alcohol can slow a person's heartbeat and breathing - and even kill.

Stimulant abuse (like with some ADHD drugs) may cause heart problems, seizures, panic attacks, paranoia, and violent behavior. These risks increase when stimulants are mixed with other medicines - even ones you can buy without a prescription, like cold medicines.

The dangers of prescription drug abuse can be even worse if people take drugs in a way they weren't intended to be used. Ritalin may seem harmless because it's prescribed even for little kids with ADHD. But when a person takes it either unnecessarily or in a way it wasn't intended (such as snorting or injection), serious problems can happen.

Probably the most common risk of prescription drug abuse is addiction. People who abuse medicines can become addicted as easily as if they were taking street drugs. That's one reason most doctors won't renew a prescription unless they see the patient - they want to examine patients to make sure they're not getting addicted.

Tips for Taking Prescription Medicine

If a doctor prescribes a pain medicine, stimulant, or CNS depressant, follow the directions exactly. Also be sure to:

Go to all doctor's visits. Your doctor will want you to visit often so they can see how well the medicine is working for you and adjust the dose or change the medicine as needed.

Make a note of the effects the drug has on your body and emotions, especially in the first few days as your body gets used to it. Tell your doctor about these.

Keep any information your pharmacist gives you about any drugs or activities you should steer clear of while taking your prescription.

Never increase or decrease the dose of your medicine without checking with your doctor's office first.

Finally, never use someone else's prescription. And don't let anyone use yours. Not only are you putting others at risk, but you could suffer too: You won't be able to refill a prescription early if the medicine gets used up before it should be. And if you're found giving medicine to someone else, it's considered a crime.

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Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person's health.